In the town of Frankfort, Waldo County, Maine, Eastern United States, is a small mountain about 1,060 feet (320 m) high. Granite from the surrounding area was once the stock in trade of a thriving industry. Mount Waldo Granite has a coarse-grained texture which gives it a more patchy, mottled look than the finer-grained granites. Although granite is no longer quarried here, it can still be seen in buildings in many eastern cities, such as New York, Washington DC and Philadelphia. Here it is at Fort Knox, five miles from the mountain:
Three years ago a slim majority of the residents of Frankfort voted to adopt a strict and controversial wind ordinance policy aimed at keeping turbines off their hilltops, and Mt Waldo in particular. But the company that wanted to develop wind power on Mount Waldo in the first place has returned to lobby and ask voters if they want to repeal the existing wind ordinance and replace it with the state’s model wind energy ordinance. If the voters can be persuaded to agree, Eolian Renewable Energy, based in Portsmouth and Portland, would be allowed to move forward with its plan for a $30 million, six-turbine development on Mount Waldo. A simulation of what it might look like is pictured here:
The 18-megawatt Waldo Community Wind project would generate enough electricity to power about 6,500 average Maine homes every year, according to the company.
The CEO of Eolian Renewable is Jack Kenworthy (pictured above). He said:
“This is all about a vote. We’ve been having a lot of conversations in Frankfort with people over the past years … We recognize there are concerns in town. We wanted to find a way to address them. We also hear a lot of support.”
In the past the debates covered issues such as private property rights, health risks from the turbines, the possible loss of property values and aesthetics.
Last time the issues ended up in the Supreme Court. This time Eolian has adopted a generous package for locals. Eolian officials have been seeking comment from residents about a sum $100,000 the company is guaranteeing to pay every year into a community benefits package. The money would be distributed annually as follows: $50,000 in an energy rebate fund, $15,000 in a local scholarship fund, $15,000 in a town discretionary fund, $10,000 for the Frankfort Village and West Frankfort fire departments and $10,000 for the local charities, the Neighbor’s Cupboard and Helping Hands.
In addition, company officials said, Waldo Community Wind would become the largest taxpayer in Frankfort, paying a minimum of $250,000 each year for the life of the 20-year project. The reason why this mountain has such potential is because of the geography of the hill. It funnels the wind. It is the perfect site for a small wind farm generating facility. According to project supporters, Mount Waldo also is not some pristine wilderness area. The 1,060-foot mountain already has power lines, a rough road to the top and three tall cellphone towers.
While opinion is still divided it seems that many local residents like the idea of greener energy production and reduction of the carbon footprint. The proposed community benefits package is going to make this latest proposal a lot more palatable we think.
